Valentine’s Day sales to grow 17pc

Online sales in the run-up to Valentine’s Day on Wednesday will grow by 17 per cent in the UK, according research by PCA Predict.

Last year, it said, online sales rose by 25 per cent in the week leading up to Valentine’s Day.

Spending in the run-up to Valentine’s Day is focused on fashion, food and drink, and health and beauty. PCA Predict highlighted the growth in the use of smartphones for shopping in the fashion and health and beauty categories.